14-15 October 2018 - Daily Current Affairs

2. 15 October: International Day of Rural Women

The International Day of Rural Women is observed across the world on 15th October to recognize the critical role and contribution of rural women.

The theme of 2018 is “Sustainable infrastructure, services and social protection for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls”.

The theme places empowerment of rural women at the heart of fulfilling the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.

Note:

The new international day established by the General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007.

The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15th October 2008.

Honors & Awards

1. Sikkim wins FAO’s future Policy awards 2018

The small Himalayan state ‘Sikkim’ has won this year's UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's Future Policy for Gold Award for its achievement in becoming the world's first totally organic agriculture state.

Pawan Chamling (Chief Minister of Sikkim) will receive the award in a ceremony at FAO headquarters during the celebrations of the World Food Week in Rome.

Sikkim was considered for the award for its policies on Agroecology and Sustainable food systems.

Brazil, Denmark, and Equador won Silver for their policies.

Sikkim was declared a fully organic state in 2016 after phasing out chemical fertilizers and pesticides and substituting them with sustainable alternatives.

The board has also approved additional life insurance cover of five lakh rupees to pilgrims who avail the service of the upcoming passenger ropeway between Bhawan and Bhairon Ghati.

The board also approved a medical support policy for the treatment of victims of public trauma under its social support initiative at the super speciality hospital.

Note:

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board was set up in August 1986 under the provisions of The Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act, 1988.

The main objective of the act was to provide for better management and governance of the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji and its endowments including the appurtenant lands and buildings.

6. Ajay Tamta Inaugurates 46th Edition of IHGF-Delhi Fair Autumn-2018

The Union Minister of State for Textiles, Ajay Tamta has inaugurated the 46th edition of world’s largest IHGF-Delhi Fair at India Expo Centre & Mart at Greater Noida.

This Fair has played a vital role in increasing exports of handicrafts from the country and acquired a special importance for the handicrafts sector.

The fair is participated by 3200 exhibitors from over 110 countries, organized by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts.

7. Microsoft and NITI Aayog partner to deploy AI solution

NITI Aayog and Microsoft India have signed a partnership to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) based solutions across various sectors such as agriculture and healthcare.

Microsoft India will support NITI Aayog by combining the cloud, AI, research and its vertical expertise for new initiatives and solutions across several core areas including agriculture and healthcare and the environment.

Microsoft will also accelerate the use of AI for the development and adoption of local language computing.

8. India elected to UN Human Rights Council

India was elected to the United Nations' top human rights body for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019,

India got 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category.

The 193-member UN General Assembly held elections for new members to the UN Human Rights Council.

The 18 new members were elected by the absolute majority through a secret ballot.

Countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the Council.

Note:

UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council) is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system.

UNHRC is made up of 47 UN member states which are elected by UN General Assembly (UNGA) with a specific number of seats allocated for every five regions of the globe.

National Appointments

9. Shekhar Mande appointed as Director-General of CSIR

Dr. Shekhar Mande has been appointed as the Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Research (DSIR).

He will succeed Girish Sahni.

Note:

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) is an autonomous body and India’s premier research & development (R&D) organisation, established in 1942.

It operates as an autonomous body registered under the Registration of Societies Act of 1860.

The Shanghai Masters (also known as Shanghai Rolex Masters) is a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in the Minhang District of Shanghai (China).